Package for fluent materials



3, 1965 s. M. DONAHUE ETAL 3,198,328

PACKAGE FOR FLUENT MATERIALS Filed Dec. 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTORS GARY M. DO NAHUE BY CHARLES H. STARK 7 'famalw jfl afiu'el.

' m'rozmms g- 3, 1965 G. M. DONAHUE ETAL 3,198,328

PACKAGE FOR FLUENT MATERIALS Filed Dec. 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

INVENTORS GARY M. DONAHUE BY CHARLES H. STARK f'fwudw Z r7. Mm

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,198,328 PACKAGE FGR FLUENTItdATERii-kld Gary M. Donahue, Temperance, Mich, and Charles H. Stark,Watervilie, Qhio, assignors to @wens-lilinois Glass Company, acorporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,738 7 Claims. (Cl.Zita-65) This invention relates to a paperboard package for fluentmaterials, and more particularly to a paperboard package for materialshaving cold flow properties.

Fluent materials, such as granular products, and materials having coldflow properties, such as unprocessed rubber, are conventionally bulkshipped in paperboard packages containing in excess of two thousandpounds. Because these materials flow and are not self-sustaining, thepackages are subject to unusually high lateral stresses. As a result ofthese stresses, considerable bulging of the side walls of conventionalpackages occurs and the packages quite frequently split open in transit.Another serious problem occasioned by bulging side walls is that suchbulged packages are extremely difiicult to remove from the vehicle inwhich they are shipped. The packages are originally placed in thevehicles in side by side relationship and after the side walls havebulged during transit they become locked together.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means forpreventing the bulging of the side walls in packages for fluentmaterials.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a simple,economical paperboard package for the packaging of fluent materials ingeneral, and in particular, ma terials having cold flow properties.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a paperboardpackage for the packaging of products having cold flow propertieswherein the weight of the packaged product is utilized to prevent sidewall bulge.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherei are set forth, by way of illustration and example, thepreferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view showing the paperboardcomponents of the package of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the package of thisinvention immediately after it is assembled;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the package of this inventionafter the packaged product has had an opportunity to settle;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view showing the arrangement of the packagedproduct within the package of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing the closure flaps of thecontainers;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are partial perspective views illustrating the steps inclosing the end of a container used in the package of this invention.

In the package of this invention, the weight of the productis used todraw in the side walls of the package. This is accomplished byinterposing one or more deformable, horizontal panels in the package andproviding a space or void below each panel. As the load above each paneldeforms the panel downwardly into the space provided, it alsosimultaneously draws inwardly the side walls of the container.

Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the package of thisinvention comprises, a first container 10. a pad 20, a restrainingmember 3d, a second container 40, a second pad 50, and a sleeve 6i Eachof the above described elements is preferably formed of corrugated$398,328 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 paperboard, with the thickness and weightof board being selected on the basis of the needs of a particularapplication.

The first and second containers described in connection with thepreferred embodiment are identical and like numerals will designate likeelements of each, with the elements of the second container beingfollowed by suffiX Kai},

The first container 16 comprises a blank of corrugated paperboard whichis scored to define four foldably connected side panels 11. The sidewall panels are secured into a tubular configuration by a conventionalmanufacturers joint 22. The manufacturers joint can be secured by anyconventional fastening means. A glued joint is preferred. Each of theside wall panels 11 has foldably attached at its lower free edge aclosure flap 12. The closure flaps are foldably connected along theirmarginal edges, and an opposed pair of closure flaps have diagonal scorelines 13 (disposed at 90 to each other) to form what is commonlyreferred to as a bellows-type bottom closure.

The pads 20 and 50 are rectangular blanks of corrugated paperboard whichare adapted to span the interior bottom surface of the containers toprovide a smooth surface.

The restraining member 30 is preferably a corrugated paperboard blankwhich is scored and slotted to form a central panel 31. The centralpanel 31 has foldably attached to its marginal edges side flaps 32. Apair of opposed side flaps have foldably attached to their marginal endedges corner flaps 33.

The sleeve 64) is preferably formed of corrugated paperboard andcomprises four foldably connected panels 61. The panels are secured intoa tubular configuration by conventional fastening means (not shown) suchas described above.

The product described in association with the preferred package of thisinvention is unprocessed rubber which has cold flow properties. As usedherein, a material having a cold flow property is one that willgradually distort or flow at room temperatures when subjected to a load(which may be its own weight). The unprocessed rubher, in its commercialform, is provided in pound units 51 having a size of 7 X 14 X 28 inches.

Each of the first and second containers has its lower end closed in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The bottom closure is preferablysecured in place by means of a length of tape 21. A bellows-type bottomclosure is preferred because the slots that are normally found betweenclosure flapsare eliminated, thereby eliminating the points of weakness,i.e., where stresses would otherwise concentrate. Referring to FIGS. 6and 8, the manufacturers joint 22 is preferably allowed to extend thefull width of the closure flaps 12. This also serves to strengthen thelowercorner of the container by not providing a starting point for thematerial to tear.

In assembling the package of this invention, the pad 20 is placed in thebottom of the first container 10 and then five layers of three units 51each are placed in the first container in the manner shown in FIG. 4.The first container has an interior dimension of approximately 28 /2 X42 /2" and a height of approximately 30". The five layers which have aninitial height of 35", settle shortly after being placed in the firstcontainer to a height substantially equal to that of the container.

The restraining member 36) is piaced atop the first container iii, andthe flaps 32 folded alongside the side wall panels 11. The corner flaps33 are folded normal to the flaps to which they are attached. The sleeve60 is telescoped over the restraining member 30 and the first containerit). The sleeve 6% is sized to closely surround the first container andserves to securely lock the flaps 32 against the first container. Thesleeve 60 and flaps 32 serve to secure together the central panel 31 andthe upper edges of the side wall panels 11.

The second container 4-0 is assembled in the same manner as the firstcontainer and placed within the sleeve 60. Layers of units 51 are placedwithin the second container in the same manner as they are placed in thefirst container; A dust pad 62 may be placed on the last layer of unitsif desired.

Referring to FiG. 2, by the time the second container is positioned andfilled, the units 51 in the first container have settled sufficiently toprovide a spare '70 having a height of approximately 2 inches. T hecentral panel which is carrying approximately 1275 pounds, deforms intoa concave configuration and occupies this space 70. Simultaneously, theupper edges of the side wall panels 11 are drawn inwardly, therebycounteracting the lateral stresses or the tendency for the side wallsor" the package to bulge. See FIG. 3.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the package ofthis invention can be practiced using a number of conventionalcontainers. It is also to be noted that a package can be assembledaccording to this invention using more than one horizontal restrainingmember positioned along the vertical height of the container.

It will, of course, also be understood that various details ofconstruction may be modified through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and it is not, therefore, the purposeto limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by thescope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A package for packaging materials having cold flow propertiescomprising:

(a) a first paperboard container, said first container comprisinga-plurality of side Wall panels foldably connected together to define atubular configaration and closure means for closing the lower end ofsaid tubular configuration;

(b) a first quantity of said material disposed within said firstcontainer, said first quantity of material having a settled height lessthan the height of said first container;

(c) a restraining member disposed atop said first container, said membercomprising a central panel spanning the upper open end of said tubularconfiguration, said central panel being positioned above said firstquantity of material defining a space therebetween, and a plurality offlaps foldably connected to said central panel and folded intocontiguous relationship with the exterior surfaces of said side wallpanels, said flaps being secured to the upper edges of said firstcontainer;

((1) a paperboard sleeve telescoped over said restraining member andfirst container, said sleeve arranged to firmly hold said flaps againstsaid first container;

(e) a second paperboard container disposed atop said retaining memberand supported thereon, said second container comprising a plurality ofside wall panels foldably connected together to define a tubu- 4 larconfiguration and closure means for closing the lower end of saidtubular configuration;

(f) a second quantity of said material disposed within said secondcontainer, the weight of said second quanity of material downwardlydeforming said central panel into said space and into a concaveformation, thereby drawing inwardly the upper edges of the side wallpanels of said first container.

2. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein said sleeve extends thecombined heights of said first and second containers.

3. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein said materials comprise aplurality of units of unprocessed rubber.

4. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means for saidfirst container comprises a bellows-type closure foldably connected tosaid side wall panels.

5. A package for fluent materials comprising:

(a) a first paperboard container having a continuous side wall and anopen upper end;

(b) a first quantity of said material disposed within said firstcontainer, said first quantity of material having a settled height lessthan the height of said first container;

(c) a deformable panel spanning said upper open end and being positionedabove said first quantity of material and defining a space therewith;

(d) a plurality of flaps foldably connected to said panel each of whichis folded into continuous relationship with said continuous side walland secured thereto at a locus adjacent said upper open end thereof;

(e) a second paperboard container containing a second quantity of saidmaterial disposed atop said deformable panel and supported thereon, theweight of said second container and said second quantity of materialdownwardly deforming said panel into a concave formation, therebydrawing inwardly the upper edges of said first container; and

(f) a paperboard sleeve telescoped over said containers and closelysurrounding said containers.

6. A package as defined in claim 5, wherein said sleeve extends thecombined heights of said first and second containers.

'7. A package as defined in claim 5, wherein said materials comprise aplurality of units of unprocessed rubber.

40 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,147 6/20 Potter 229-14 1,840,677 1/32 Miessler 229-14 1,882,524 10/32 Sherman229-14 1,908,940 5/33 Weidel 206-46 2,142,142 1/39 Newsom 229-142,539,514 1/51 Jenett 206-65 2,634,038 4/53 George 229-14 2,796,979 6/57Buttery 20645.31 2,893,617 7/59 George 229-14 2,954,140 9/60 Sutherland206-46 3,056,536 10/62 Smith 229-14 3,124,246 3/64 Remer 206-46 THERONE. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS HAVING COLD FLOW PROPERTIESCOMPRISING: (A) A FIRST PAPERBOARD CONTAINER, SAID FIRST CONTAINERCOMPRISING A PLURALTY OF SIDE WALL PANELS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TODEFINE A TUBULAR CONFIGURATION AND CLOSURE MEANS FOR CLOSING THE LOWERENE OF SAID TUBULAR CONFIGURATION; (B) A FIRST QUANTITY OF SAID MATERIALDISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID FIRST QUANTITY OF MATERIALHAVING A SETTLED HEIGHT LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF SAID FIRST CONTAINER;(C) A RESTRAINING MEMBER DISPOSED ATOP SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID MEMBERCOMPRISING A CENTRAL PANEL SPANNING THE UPPER OPEN END OF SAID TUBULARCONFIGURATION, SAID CENTRAL PANEL BEING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID FIRSTQUANTITY OF MATERIAL DEFINING A SPACE THEREBETWEEN, AND A PLURALITY OFFLAPS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO SAID CENTRAL PANEL AND FOLDED INTOCONTIGUOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID SIDE WALLPANELS, SAID FLAPS BEING SECURED TO THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID FIRSTCONTAINER; (D) A PAPERBOARD SLEEVE TELESCOPED OVER SAID DESTRAININGMEMBER AND FIRST CONTAINER, SAID SLEEVE ARRANGED TO FIRMLY HOLD SAIDFLAPS AGAINST SAID FIRST CONTAINER; (E) A SECOND PAPERBOARD CONTAINERDISPOSED ATOP SAID